Meatpacking in Flux: Changes at Florent, Brass Monkey, and Merkato 55

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The meatpacking district is buzzing — yesterday brought news that Kyky and Unik, the team behind the defunct club PM, opened Bijoux underneath the restaurant they had a hand in, Merkato 55. (To score a table, we’re told, you should e-mail the lounge manager, Nathaniel, at rsvp@bijouxlounge.com. Note that being fiscally able to afford the requisite bottle service isn’t enough to gain entry.) And today, Eater checks in with Florent and finds that landlord turned owner Joanne Lucas has removed the restaurant’s logo as she readies to reopen at 8 a.m. tomorrow with the same wait staff, a new name (R&L;), and a new telephone number (212-989-3863). UrbanDaddy also informs that the Brass Monkey, a reliable alternative to the surrounding hype (and after the Hog Pit closes in December, pretty much the only alternative), has opened a characteristically low-key rooftop, where films will be screened. You’re up on your meatpacking news for the next time you’re talking about it while drinking far, far across town.